[HANASHIR:15775] Re: ideas for Tot Shabbat

[Marsha Fensin <mfsings...>]

We have a great Tot Shabbat service here.  We call it Torah for Tots. 
 It starts at 6:30 p.m. once a month and lasts maybe 20 minutes, tops. 
 We begin with Bim Bam, Hiney Mah Tov, etc.  some warm up songs, then 
invite the families to ocme up to the Bima.  We open the ark and do the 
Barchu, Sh'ma.  The rabbi takes out the Torah, does a brief reading, 
puts the Torah back, tells a seasonal story or talks about the Torah 
portion, we do a song that is appropriate to the season or story.  We 
have a miniature Torah that we sometimes march around with and also lots 
of those plastic, inflatable musical instruments that I have collected 
over the years at B'nai Mitzvah parties. We do the Aleynu ( a one liner 
with a Bayom Hahou) , the rabbi does a kids blessing with the parents 
holding their hands over their children, or just holding them, followed 
by a Shabbat Shalom kisses and hugs.  Then, comes the special Oneg 
afterwards.  Each month one or two families sponsor the kids' oneg and 
it is a great time to socialize and get to know one another.  
Shabbat Shalom,
Marsha

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